In the world of iconic racing liveries, Martini Racing is right up there with Golf Oil as the most-loved in history.

What better way to salute the long collaborative partnership between ItalDesign Giugiaro than to dress their sexy Brivido GT concept in fast red and blue stripes on a white base.

In the case of the Brivido Martini Racing, the homage is more than paint-deep. With a semi-exposed rear diffuser and and long, low nose splitter, the Brivido is close in spirit to the legendary 037 and Beta Montecarlo racecars.

These wild turbo rally specials were so fast and wild that they inspired the WRC and FIA to create the Group B "unlimited" class. They were one of the first applications of carbon-fiber consturction and bodywork outside of the NASA program, and their engine would bring the F40 twin-turbo V8 much-needed real-world testing more than five years before Ferrari's first turbo street car.

With the ItalDesign Giugiaro Brivido, the Lancia 037 and Montecarlo's mid-engine layout is replaced by a front-engine setup. But for fastback design impact and subtle wheel flare detailing, they are all masterclasses.

2012 Giugiaro BRIVIDO Martini Racing

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They were rally cars only in tire and suspension settings. For all other intents and purposes, these were the hardest-core sports racers in decades. They leveraged new innovations in tech heavily - things like electronic fuel injection, carbon-fiber chassis construction, and turbocharging - to wild effect.

The Martin colors are just icing on the cake, really.

But while Group B might have taken these cars with them to history, the legacy lives on proudly today in many thousands of garages: via not just the Ferrari F40 and California T, but also the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

To a lesser extent, they also spawned the desire for a new Skyline GT-R from Nissan.

Very important cars that are a joy to behold.

1983 Lancia Beta Montecarlo

1982 Lancia 037

Brivido Martini Racing

Giugiaro Design realized the livery of the GT version of the Brivido, in collaboration with Martini Racing.

Giugiaro Design, the industrial design division of Italdesign Giugiaro, realized the livery of the GT version of the Brivido, in collaboration with Martini Racing.

In this configuration the car proposes the typical GT racing features: miniskirts, bumpers and bonnet redesigned so to enhance aerodynamics and two big spoilers granting stability.

Martini Racing is the name under which various motor racing teams raced when sponsored by the Martini & Rossi, now part of the Bacardi Group Ltd. Martini's sponsorship program began in 1968. The race cars are marked with the distinctive dark blue, light blue and red stripes on (most often) white or silver cars.

The cooperation between Giugiaro Design and Martini Racing dates back to the 80s and to the projects of graphics for off-shore and racing cars, packaging and accessories.

About The Author

Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly expanding automotive news magazine.He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.Mr. Burkart is available for all questions and concerns by email Tom(at)car-revs-daily.com.